Ornithogalum plant named ‘Bethlehem’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Ornithogalum thyrsoides  Jacq. named ‘Bethlehem’ originated as a controlled cross between the commercial cultivar  Ornithogalum thyrsoides  Jacq. ‘Chesapeake Snowflake’ and an unnamed  Ornithogalum thyrsoides  Jacq. cultivar. The cultivar ‘Bethlehem’ has R.H.S. 155 C (white group) tepals at maturity and is distinguished from other similar cultivars of which the inventor is aware by its tall racemes, wide leaves and suitability for growth in pots.

Botanical classification: Ornithogalum thyrsoides Jasq. ‘Bethlehem’.

Variety denomination: ‘Bethlehem’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Lilaceaefamily. The botanical name of the plant is Ornithogalum thyrsoides Jasq.‘Bethlehem’.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled crossbetween the commercial variety Ornithogalum thyrsoides ‘ChesapeakeSnowflake’ (U.S Plant Pat. No. 13,200) and an unnamed Ornithogalumthyrsoides. ‘Chesapeake Snowflake’ was the seed parent. ‘ChesapeakeSnowflake’ is the progeny of the commercial variety ‘Bok Bay’.

The new variety ‘Bethlehem’ is differentiated from its seed parent andother varieties known to the invention as shown in the table below.

TABLE 1 ‘Chesapeake ‘Chesapeake New Variety New Variety Snowflake’Starlight’ ‘Damascus’ ‘Bethlehem’ U.S. Plant U.S. Plant S/N: S/N: Pat.No. 13,200 Pat. 12/315,280 12/315,215 (seed parent) No. 12,850 Rachis/40 cm 43 cm 20-30 cm 55-60 cm Raceme height Rachis color R.H.S. 146BR.H.S. 146A Unknown Unknown Reflexed Yes Yes Unknown Unknown leaves Leafcolor R.H.S. 147B R.H.S. 146A R.H.S. 143B R.H.S. 143B Floret 65 mm 70 mm50-60 mm 35-40 mm diameter Tepal height 28 mm 36 mm 20-25 mm 20 mm TepalColor R.H.S. 155A R.H.S. 155C R.H.S.155A-D R.H.S. 155A-D Tepal SpotR.H.S. 152B R.H.S. 152A R.H.S. 147A R.H.S. 152A Color

The new variety was first noticed, because of its erect and tall racemesand its large flowers.

The new cultivar ‘Bethlehem’ has been asexually reproduced through threegenerations under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery inHalf Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor with itsdistinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

‘Bethlehem’ is distinguished from other Ornithogalum thyrsoidesvarieties of which the inventor is aware by its tall, upright racemes,its wide leaves, its suitability for growth in pots and its largeflowers.

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttingswere taken from the initially selected plant. Examination of asexuallyreproduced, successive generations grown in a nursery at Half Moon Bay,Calif. show that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor ‘Bethlehem’ remains firmly fixed through three generations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show thetypical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a view of the new variety showing its form, upright growthhabit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and non-pigmented tepals.

FIG. 2 is a view of the inflorescence of the new variety.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the inflorescence of the new variety,showing opened florets, and opening florets.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the inflorescence of the new variety,showing opened florets, and opening florets.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a number of inflorescences of the new variety.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the base of the raceme of the new variety.

FIG. 7 is a view of the base of the new variety.

FIG. 8 is a close up view of the upper portion of an inflorescence ofthe new variety.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the new variety.

FIG. 10 is a top view of an inflorescence of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plants shown in the figures were grown in 6″ pots and wereapproximately 7 months old.

‘Bethlehem’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Colordeterminations were made with The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.)Colour Chart.

THE PLANT

-   Origin: Controlled cross.    -   -   Parents.—Ornithogalum thyrsoides Jasq. ‘Chesapeake            Snowflake’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,200) and an unnanmed            Ornithogalum thyrsoides Jasq.        -   Botanic classification.—Ornithogalum thyrsoides Jasq.            ‘Damascus’.-   Form: Spreading basal leaves with upright inflorescences on tall    rachis. A typical plant with a mature inflorescence that is ready    for sale is approximately 43 cm high when grown in a 6″ pot with    appropriate soil amendments.-   Growth: Upright rachis with spreading leaves. Inflorescence is large    and showy.-   Rachis: The rachis is upright and glaucescent. Its color is R.H.S.    146 A (yellow-green group). Diameter: 7 mm. The length of the rachis    to the first floret and bract pair is variable and ranges from 15 cm    to 25 cm.-   Foliage: Usually five leaves surround each rachis on a mature plant    ready for commercial sale. Leaves are whorled at base of stem.    -   -   Shape of leaf.—Fleshy, varying from channeled to flat,            lanceolate. Margins are entire. Apex is acute.        -   Texture.—Glaucescent.        -   Color.—Mature leaves are R.H.S. 146 A (yellow-green group)            on both abaxial ad adaxial surfaces. Large leaves are 25 cm            long and 4 cm wide.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Form: Corymbose racemes. Indeterminate. Approximately 100 to 125    individual flowers (florets) per inflorescence on pedicels that    elongate as the florets opens, and on average are as long as 56 mm    for mature florets. Flowers do not produce a fragrance. Buds are    predominately green — R.H.S. 146 B (yellow-green group), 1.2-1.5 cm    tall and have diameter of 8 to 10 mm. The rachis for the    inflorescence is strong and upright. The pedicels are predominately    green — R.H.S. 146 A (yellow-green group) at maturity and glabrous.-   Size of inflorescence: Large. A typical inflorescence shown in the    figures can be as large as 15 cm in diameter, and 23 cm high.-   Shape: Basal florets opening first with pedicels that elongate that    give the raceme a corymbose appearance as the inflorescence ages.-   Appearance: Showy.

FLORETS

-   General: The florets at the base of the inflorescence open first,    and open more and more as the inflorescence ages. Florets are    perfect and complete. Perianth is not keeled. Perianth can be    hightly reflexed. Each floret is associated with a bract that can be    as high as 50 mm and is same color as leaves — R.H.S. 146 A    (yellow-green group). The bracts are lanecolate with narrowly acute    apexes and are approximately 7 mm wide at their base.    -   -   Perianth.—There are 6 ovate tepals that are spotted at their            base on both their abaxial and adaxial surfaces — R.H.S. 152            A (yellow-green group), but are predominately white on both            their abaxial and adaxial surfaces — R.H.S. 155 C (white            group) with the mid-vein showing on the abaxial surface —            R.H.S. 145 A (yellow-green group).        -   Floret diameter.—70 mm. Tepals of mature florets are            typically 36 mm high, 17 mm wide, 4 mm wide at their            attachment, and the spotted base is approximately 5 mm high            and extends the width of the tepal at the base. Apex shape            of the tepal is abruptly acuminate.-   Stamens: 6 stamens (two sets of 3). Pollen is R.H.S. 17A    (yellow-orange group). Plant produces abundant pollen. Filament is    flattened with translucent wings. Filament is 3 mm wide at base and    10 mm high. Filament is 3 mm at its widest point. Anther is 4 mm    high and basally attached. Filament is R.H.S. 155 A (white group).    Anther is R.H.S. 146 B (yellow-green group) before opening to reveal    pollen.-   Stigma: Generally, a three-pronged stigma on one pistil per floret.    The style is 2 mm long. The stigma is approximately 2 mm long. Style    and stigma are R.H.S. 155 A (white group).-   Ovary: The ovary is three-celled with axile placentae. The base of    the ovary is R.H.S. 152 C (yellow-green group) and the top of the    ovary is R.H.S. 200 B (brown group). The ovary is 6 mm high and has    a diameter of 7 mm.

1. A new and distinct Ornithogalum plant named ‘Bethlehem’ substantiallyas herein shown and described.